Single overhead mic questions

[mikgag]

I'm going to be recording our drum set using 1 kick drum mic and 1 overhead.

Here's my questions:

1) SDC or LDC or does it depend on the mic?

2) I've read of sticking the one mic 6' in front of the set, or behind the drummers head over his shoulder pointed at middle of the kit. Since I'll be using a kick dum mic, would the behind the drummer placement make more sense?

3) Would a PZM on a 2'x2' piece of plywood hanging over the drums work as the single overhead?

4) I'll be looking at budget mics depending on whether it's SDC or LDC. Any recommendations such as Studio Projects B1, MXL 603, V67, CAD, Behringer, others?? Which would you recommend for this application?

thanks.

 

[punkin]

Gratuitous bump

 

[jkokura]

1. uhh...I'd use an LDC, but you could use either - depends on the sound you're after. Try both.

2. One in the kick and one over the shoulder of the drummer pointed at the snare is what I'd do. You could do it other ways. Personally I'd rather do a three mic setup with a kick mic and a pair of LDC's done properly...check this site out for more info on various placements... http://www.saecollege.de/reference_material/

3. dunno. Anything will work if you want it to...will it give you the result you want? dunno.

4. Yes. Any of them will do. What's your budget? What else are you going to do with it?

Jacob

 

[Herm]

Here is a clip of me just messing around with a single 603 mxl overhead two drum sticks above and facing the snare. With a mxl v67g on the kick about 8 inches in the middle and infront of the head.
This will give you some idea of what kind of mix you will get with that setup.

Also if you go here and click on chain of fools you can here a song done with that same set up only a differant kit.

http://mysite.verizon.net/resopl6x/

 

[jkokura]

Someone gave me neg rep for my post above...what the heck? Put your name on it and then explain to me what I said wrong...

jacob

 

[mjau]

Yep, I agree with the single overhead up above the drummer, looking at the snare. You probably won't have the depth you might get from a front-of-kit mic, but you will get better snare definition.

 

[jaykeMURD]

If we're talkin' your plain-jane drumset, an LDC over the kit will do nicely. The Studio Projects B1, seems to hold it's own among other low-to-mid range LDC's. Make sure, however, you have a good preamp, cause any conenser will sound like cock and balls on a low-grade preamp. Heck, I started off with one MXL 990 LDC for drum overheads, a 57 on snare, and a Beta52 on the kick; with gooe EQing and compression/limiting, I could get some decent drum tracks.